Kite



1963 J. P. SMOKOWSKI 3,073,556

KITE Filed July so, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JORDAN P. SMOKOWSKI ATTORNEYS 1963 J. P. -SMOKOWSKI 3,073,556

KITE

Filed July so, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JORDAN p. smoxowsm A TORNEYS Patented Jan. 15, 1953 3,073,556 KITE Jordan'P. Smokowski, 87 Filmore Ave., Bufialo, N.Y. Filed'July 30, 1958, Ser. No. 752,081 9 Claims. (or. 244-153 This invention relates to kites and particularly to a kite which may readily be erected or set up and taken down and which possesses unusual flying characteristics.

Essentially, the kite of the present invention consists of a pair of circular sheets of flexible light weight material joined about their marginal edges and provided with means for spacing the centerportions, of the two circular sheets when the kite is in use so as to form what may be defined geometrically as a double cone, that is, a pair of obtuse cones with their bases in juxtaposition. The joined margins of the sheets are provided with reinforcing means for maintaining the circular shape of the kite in use.

In a preferred form of the invention the sheets which form the main body of the kite are of transparent or translucent organic plastic material which may be of very light Weight yet having adequate strength characteristics. Such material has reflective characteristics which render the kite unusually attractivein flight, particularly in sunlight. I a I The kite of the present invention is simple and economical to manufacture and can readily be setup for use.

When it is in collapsed or knockdown condition the kite of the present invention is extremely compact, consisting entirely of a package about a foot long and only an inch or so across.

A most important feature'of the kiteof the present in vention is its flying characteristics. It proves to be of remarkable aerodynamic stability and flies easily and well in a very light breeze, as well as in winds of substantial force.

A typical or representative form of the kite of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the followingspecification by way of example. However, it is to be understood that the embodiment thus set forth is for the purpose of illustrating the principles of thepresent invention and the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiment or othewise than as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 7

FIG. 1 is a general side elevational view of one form of the kite of the present invention in flight;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation viewof the kite of FIG. 1, that is, a view as seen by one flying the same, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line III--III of FIG. 2, on a still further enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a marginal portion of the form of kite disclosed herein, viewed in the same direction as FIG. 2, but on an enlarged scale and with portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of another marginal portion of the form of kite disclosed herein, likewise viewed in the same direction as FIG. 2 but on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG. 5 but shown at right angles thereto and partly in cross section.

Like characters of reference denote like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings and the kite proper, designated generally by the numeralltl, comprises a pair of generally circular flexible sheets 11 and 12 which are joined about their circumferences by stitching, heat sealing, by means of adhesives, or in any other desired manner. Since the form of the kite to which specific reference is had herein by way of example preferably. is constructed of sheets 11 and .12 of organic plastic material, the lines of joinder therebetween are preferably effected by heat sealing the sheets to each other, suitable machines for thus joining sheets of plastic material along predetermined lines being readily available.

For reasons which will presently appeanthe sheets 11 and 12 are joined, just inwardly of their peripheries, along two concentric circles. The inner line of joinder is designated 16 and is continuous about the sheets 11 and 12 whereas the outer line of joinder, designated 17, is discontinuous in a manner and for purposes which will presently appear. Because of the scale of the drawing the lines of joinder 16 and 17 are not illustrated in FIG. 2. When heat sealing is used the lines of joinder are more or less invisible in any event. In the enlarged fragmentary views, FIGS. 4 and 5, the lines of joinder 1'6 and 17 are illustrated diagrammatically by dash lines.

The lines of joinder 16 and 17 form a marginal tubular opening as shown in FIG. 3 and a series of arcuate bows or stiffening members 20 of light somewhat flexible material extend along within such opening. The bows 20 .may be made of various materials but'I have found willow to be very effective because of its strength, light weight and low cost. In the illustrated instance the bows 20 are six in number and the outer line of joinder 17 is interrupted where the ends of the bows meet, as shown in FIG. 4. A tubular ferrule 21 is fitted more or less permanently to one end of eachof the bows 20 and the adjacent end of the next bow 20 is fitted into the ferrule in setting up the kite for use. I

The interruption in the line of joinder17 at eachof the ferrules 2-1 gives access to the ferrules 21 for purposes of assembly and'disassembly. In the present embodiment there is a certain amount of slack in the two sheets 11 and 12 as indicated at 22 in FIG. 2 and this sl'ack may be shifted about thecircumference at will to facilitate getting at the ferrules 21 to assemble the bows 20.

When the bows 20 are assembled in end-to-end fashion as indicated above, the sheets 11 and 12 are held in circular form and, in further preparation of the kite for. use, the central portions of the sheets are spaced apart whereby the sheets form a pair of obtuse cones joined at their bases. Various'means may be employed for ac complishing this spacing function. A very convenientand practical method, particularly in view of the importance of light weight, is to interpose a toy rubber balloon 23 in the center of the space between the sheets 11 and 12, with the mouthpiece 24 thereof projecting through a small central opening 25 in the sheet 11.

The balloon is deflated when the kite is in knockdown condition and by inflation thereof the sheets are held in their desired double conical relationship as clearly illus-' trated in FIG. 1. After inflation the mouthpiece 24 of balloon 23 may be tied off or stopped in various ways as by means of a rubber band, a paper clip, or otherwise; 7

a substantial area.

In addition to the interruptions referred to previously as occurring at the junctures of the bows 20, the outer lineof joinder 17 is also interruptedat the bottom dead center of the kite as viewed in FIG; 2, this portion of the margin of the kite being illustrated on an enlarged scale in FIG; 5. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a tail stick 28 is provided at its upper end with a clip 29 which may be sprung into engagement over the bottom bow 20 in setting up the kite for use. A conventional stabilizing tail30 maybe tied to the bottom of tail stick 28 as shown in FIG.

In the present instance, for reasons of compactness in packing, the tail stick is made in two sections joined by a ferrule 31, the individual sections approximating the iengths of the bows 20.

To complete the tail supporting structure, a string 32 is ti-ed to bow 20 adjacent to clip 29 and at its other end to a ferrule 33 at the bottom of tail stick 28, thereby preventing accidental disassembly of the tail stick sections 7 at the ferule 31 or at clip 29. For reasons of clarity no attempt is made to illustrate string 32 in FIG. 2. Further strings 35 and 36 tie between the bottom ferrule 33 and the ferrules '21 at opposite sides of the tail stick 28; thus maintaining the tail stick in generally perpendicular position with respect to the body of the kite, as viewed in FIG. 2.

The kite of the present invention, as thus constructed and erected, is fiown in the usual manner. Shroud lines 33 may be tied to each of the ferrules 21 and, as shown in FIG. 1, connects jointly with a tethering line or cord 39. -As initially shipped and sold the kite of the present invention is adapted to be folded into a package of small compass and the kite may readily be disassembled and folded into a similarly small package when it is not being used.

When it is desired to put the kite in knockdown or folded condition, the bows 20 are disconnected by disassembling one end of each from the ferrule 21 of the adjacent bow. The clip 29 of tail stick 28 is also withdrawn from its bow 20. Referring to FIG. 2, the sheets 10 and 11 are then folded jointly along a horizontal line through their center, so that the top half of the kite body 10 overlies the bottom half. Following this the two sixty degree side segments of the remaining semicircle are folded in over the center sixty degree segment along radial lines. I v

This leaves all six of the bows 20 lying closely alongside of each other and coextensively, in the position occupied by the bottom bow 20 in FIG. 2. The two tail stick sections are then disjointed at the ferrule 31 and are laid along with the bows 20, the latter remaining in the tubular hem portions of the sheets 11 and 12 formed by the lines of joinder 16 and 17. Then, using the bows 20 and the tail stick sections as a sort of winding core, the segmentally folded sheets 11 and 12 are rolled thereupon by rolling upwardly from the bottom, as viewed in FIG. 2.

I claim: t l. A static kite structure comprising a pair of circular sheet members of substantially equal diameters joined to each other about their margins to define a circular kite body, means for holding the central portions of said sheet members in spaced relationship to form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body, and a tethering line including means engaging said kite body circumferentially to position the same with one of said cones facing generally in the direction of tethering.

2, A static kite structure comprising a pair of flexible circular sheet members of substantially equal diameters joined to each other about their margins to define a circular kite body, and an inflatable balloon disposed centrally between the sheet members and adapted upon infiation to hold the central portions of said sheet members in spaced relationship to form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body.

3. A static kite structure comprising a pair of flexible circular sheet, members of substantially equal diameters joined to each other about their margins to define a circular kite body, semi-rigid arcuate means extending about said margins to maintain the sheet members in circular form, means for holding the central portions of said sheet members in spaced relationship to form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body,

A, and a tethering line including means engaging said kite body circumferentially to position the same with one of said cones facing generally in the direction of tethering.

4. A static kite structure comprising a pair of flexible circular sheet members of substantially equal diameters joined to each other about their margins to define a circular kite body, semi-rigid means extending about said margins to maintain the sheet members in circular form, and an inflatable balloon disposed centrally between the sheet members and adapted upon inflation to hold the central portions of said sheet members in spaced rela tionshipto form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body.

5. A kite structure comprising a pair of flexible circular sheet members, a pair of concentric radially spaced seams adjacent to the peripheries of said sheet members for joining the same to each other to form a circular kite body having a marginal tubular formation, a plurality of semi-rigid arcuate members in said tubular formation and connected in end-to-end relationship to maintain said sheets in circular form, and means for holding the central portions of said sheets in spaced relationship to form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body.

6. A kite structure comprising a pair of flexible circular sheet members, a pair of concentric radially spaced seams adjacent to the peripheries of said sheet members for joining the same to each other to form a circular kite body having a marginal tubular formation, elongated semi-rigid rod means in said tubular formation to main tain said sheets in circular form, and means for holding the central portions of said sheets, in spaced relationship to form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body.

7. A kite structure comprising a pair of circular sheet members of substantially equal diameters joined to each other about their margins to define a circular kite body,

and means for holding the central portions of said sheet members in spaced relationship to form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body, and tethering line means attached to said kite body at a plurality of spaced points adjacent to its, pe riphery to position said kite body with one of said cone surfaces facing generally, in the direction of tethering.

8. A static kite structure comprising a pair of circular sheet members of substantially equal diameters joined to each other about their margins to define a circular body, and means for holding the central portions of said sheet members in spaced relationship to form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body, a tethering line engaging said kite body circumferentially to position the same with one of said cones facing generally in the direction of tethering, and a tail stick attachable to the periphery of said kite body and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom.

9. A static kite structure comprising a pair of circular sheet members of substantially equal diameters joined to each other about their margins to define a circular kite body, means for holding the central portions of said sheet members in spaced relationship to form a kite body wherein each surface comprises a cone with both cones having a common base circle at the periphery of said kite body, tethering line means attached to said kite body at a plurality of spaced points adjacent to its periphery to position the same with one of its cones facing generally in the direction of tethering, and a tail stick attachable to the periphery of said kite body and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom.

(References on following page) 5 6 1 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,632,614 Bodell Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 9, 5 Sp arkman Nov. 6, 1956 r 10 90 Weiss Jam 23, 5 2903,207 Wllson p 1 1,432,515 Allison Oct. 17, 1922 P 1,546,803 Sternberg July 21, 1925 5 FOREIGN ATENTS 1,617,011 Cooper Feb, 8, 1927 320,412 G rmany Nov. 8, 1951 1,858,460 Ranseen May 17, 1932 794,286 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1958 

1. A STATIC KITE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF CIRCULAR SHEET MEMBERS OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL DIAMETERS JOINED TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THEIR MARGINS TO DEFINE A CIRCULAR KITE BODY, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF SAID SHEET MEMBERS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO FORM A KITE BODY WHEREIN EACH SURFACE COMPRISES A CONE WITH BOTH CONES HAVING A COMMON BASE CIRCLE AT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID KITE BODY, AND A TETHERING LINE INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGING SAID KITE 